Jacksonville’s young adults have many things that they think are fun, and unfortunately, they will do those things, legal or not, on a whim. Unfortunately for those who do such illegal activities, the cost can be tremendous. If one has been charged with one such criminal activity, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Ronnie Joe Sneed, Jr. has been charged with reckless driving, resisting an officer, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and having no vehicle registration. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant on a battery charge from Marion County. His arrest came after he spilled his motorcycle in a high-speed pursuit with police. His passenger was thrown off the motorcycle but was unharmed.

Jacksonville traffic violations cases typically range from smaller offenses such as speeding tickets or reckless driving offenses. However, when those offenses are coupled with more serious driving offenses or outstanding warrants as in this case, the costs and punishments for those crimes can be severe. Furthermore, the penalties will probably be more severe if there are outstanding warrants in the mix.

Many times in Jacksonville, citizens have committed traffic crimes such as reckless driving, been ticketed, set a court date, and then failed to show up for court on the preset date. As unfortunate as it is, the Judge may put out a warrant for one’s arrest, particularly if the matter involved one’s bail hearing for any criminal matter. At that point, the court is making the accused a fugitive evading the law, as is in this case.

An outstanding warrant on someone involves a few possibilities that a Judge will take into account when making subsequent decisions regarding bail and leniency towards the accused. One Judge might look to the fact that an accused individual was on an outstanding warrant and see that the accused is simply another lawbreaker who needs punishment. However, if one knows one has an outstanding warrant and has the ability to turn one’s self in, the Judge may look favorably towards the accused and afford an easier time for the accused while in the system.

In this case, the accused ran away from police because he was probably aware that he was a fugitive and was not wanting to get caught by police. Even though it is the human instinct to run when faced by the possibility of one’s freedoms being stripped, when one is caught, one is caught. Furthermore, the police can only temporarily deprive one of one’s rights. However, one controls just how much the police and the legal system control the outcome.

One can either hope that the system is fair and treats one with the dignity of a citizen that is expected under the Constitution, or one can obtain an experienced Jacksonville traffic violations defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. One should not have to face an army of difficult legal problems alone. One needs an experienced attorney.

The Forbess Law Firm has been aiding clients who face criminal charges in Jacksonville for more than a decade and are here to provide aggressive criminal defense to anyone accused of a crime. If you or a loved one require a Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer, contact our firm today. We are available through our website or by calling us at 904-634-0900.